Splendora keeps rolling in Locust Grove S. (G2)

Splendora made short work of her three foes in Saturday’s $400,000 Locust Grove S. (G2) at Churchill Downs, strolling to a 5 ¼-length win in the 1 1/16-mile contest for fillies and mares.

The Bob Baffert-trained 5-year-old has been sensational this year, winning five of six starts, all graded stakes.

Splendora stumbled slightly leaving the gate, but immediately recovered to take a narrow lead over Immersive going into the first turn. That pair ran 1-2 through six furlongs in 1:11.84, before Splendora began to pull away. She was turned loose at the top of the stretch and easily bounded clear to win in hand in 1:43.30 on a fast track.

“We’re very thankful for Mike Talla for allowing us to buy into her,” co-owner Randy Boyd said. “He’s a great friend, and we’re enjoying sharing this success with him. We have a couple of great horses now between Vahva and Seismic Beauty. Splendora will probably be joining them (as a broodmare) sometime in the near future. We hope now she can take us to the Breeders’ Cup.”

Winner of last year’s Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1), Splendora now has six graded stakes wins and has earned $1,843,700. The ultra-consistent mare is 10-4-0 in 16 lifetime starts.